The Birth of Rizal LAW: Prepared By: Jessa C. Nitafan

THE BIRTH OF RIZAL
LAW
PREPARED BY: JESSA C. NITAFAN
LESSON OBJECTIVES
• Identify the opposing groups on the issue of the

Rizal Law
• Examine the goals of the Rizal Law
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-battle-of-manila-wwii
Amidst the destruction of building infrastructures, roads, and bridges
brought by World War II,
Filipino people saw the need to rebuild

the Filipino identity which was equally
affected by the war.
SENATE BILL NO. 438 (RIZAL BILL)
An act to make “NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL

FILIBUSTERISMO COMPULSARY READING
MATTER IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.”
SENATE BILL 438
• It was drafted and

submitted by Senator
Claro M. Recto on April
3, 1956 to the Senate
Committee on
Education.
SENATE BILL 438
• Senator Jose P. Laurel, who

was the chairman of the
Committee on Education,
sponsored and presented the
bill to the Upper House on
April 17, 1956
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE BILL
Disseminate the ideas

and ideal of Jose Rizal
through readings his
works (Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo)
Arguments of the supporters
and the oppositions of the
Rizal bill
SUPPORTERS OPPOSITIONS
Francisco Rodrigo Mariano Cuenco
Jose P. Laurel Claro M. Recto
Decoroso Rosales
SEN. LAUREL STATED THAT:
“Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusteriso must be read

by all Filipinos. They must be taken to heart, for their
pages we see ourselves as in a mirror, our defects as
well as our strength, our virtues as well our vices.
Only then would we become conscious as a people,
and so learn for painful sacrifices that ultimately lead
to self-reliance, self-respect and freedom.” (Laurel,
Jr., 131)
ARGUMENTS OF THE OPPONENT
(CATHOLIC SENATORS)
• The bill was an attempt to discredit the Catholic religion.
• Inimical to the tenets of the faith to which 170 lines in Noli
Me Tangere and 50 lines in El Filibusterismo were
offensive to the Church doctrine
• Compulsion to read something against one’s faith impaired
freedom of Speech and religious freedom
SEN. RODRIGO’S SPEECH
“A vast majority of our people are the same time

Catholics and Filipino citizens. As such, they have two
great loves: their country and their faith. These two
loves are no conflicting loved. They are harmonious
affections, like the love of a child for his father and
for his mother. This is the basis of my stand. Let us not
create a conflict between nationalism and religion;
the government and the church.”
SEN. RECTO REFUTTED ARGUMEMT
Rizal did not pretend to teach religion or theology
when he wrote those books. He aimed to inculcating
civic consciounes in the Filipinos, national dignity,
personal pride, and patriotism… but while he
criticized and ridiculed the unworthy behavior of
certain ministers of the church, he made exceptions
in favor of the worthy ones, like the Dominician friar,
Padre Fernandez, and the virtuous native priest,
Padre Florentino, and the Jesuits in general.
HOUSE BILL NO. 5561
Same bill that was filed by Congressman Jacobo Z.

Gonzales in the House of Representative. Different faces but
the same stance, the bill was attacked based on its
constitutionality and religiosity.
SETBACKS
Both Upper House and

Lower House seemed
hopeless for the bill to
pass into law.
SUBSTITUTE BILL
The inclusion of all works and writings of Rizal,
not just two novel.
Senator Laurel stressed the removal of the term “compulsion” to

appease the opposition. He asserted the importance of reading the
original and unexpurgated edition of Rizal’s novel.
The last amendment was proposed- the provisions regarding the
“exemption” of students from reading the two novels on certain
condition.
On May 12, 1956, Senate Bill no. 438 was approved
on second reading. The Lower House imitated the
Senate and on May 14, 1956, the bill was approved in
the House of Representatives.
PRESIDENT RAMON MAGSAYSAY
On June 12, 1956, he signed the bill to make it a

law, thus giving birth to Republic Act no.1425
also known as the
RIZAL LAW.
AIMS OF RIZAL LAW
• Recognize the relevance of Rizal’s ideals, thoughts, teachings, and
life-values to present conditions in the community and the country
and apply them in the solution to day-to-day situations and
problems of contemporary life
• Develop an understanding and appreciation of the qualities,
behavior, and character of Rizal, as well as his thoughts and ideas,
and thus foster the development of moral character, personal
discipline, citizenship, and vocational efficiency.
• Comply with the patriotic objectives of the Rizal Law given by the
Late Senator Jose P. Laurel
REFERENCES
Crudo, E.R.P. (2019). The life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal. Quezon
City: Rex Book Store, Inc.
De Viana, A. V. et aql. ( 2018). Jose Rizal: social reformer and patriot (A

study of his life and times). Quezon City: Rex Book Store, Inc.
Pasigui, R.E., & Cabalu, D.H . (2014). Jose Rizal: the man and the hero. Quezon
City: C & E Publishing, Inc.

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THE BIRTH OF RIZAL

• Identify the opposing groups on the issue of the

Filipino people saw the need to rebuild

An act to make “NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL

• It was drafted and

• Senator Jose P. Laurel, who

Disseminate the ideas

Francisco Rodrigo Mariano Cuenco

Jose P. Laurel Claro M. Recto

“Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusteriso must be read

“A vast majority of our people are the same time

Same bill that was filed by Congressman Jacobo Z.

Both Upper House and

Senator Laurel stressed the removal of the term “compulsion” to

On June 12, 1956, he signed the bill to make it a

De Viana, A. V. et aql. ( 2018). Jose Rizal: social reformer and patriot (A

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